collar

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against the collar

Difficult, exhausting, or problematic. The phrase originates from the collar on a horse's harness, which tightens on the horse's neck when it travels uphill. Primarily heard in UK. I was doing fine in the marathon, but it was a bit against the collar for the last couple miles.I don't think I have time to meet you today. Work has been a bit against the collar recently.

collar (someone)

1. To detain or restrain someone, either physically or figuratively. Likened to grabbing someone by the collar. I was trying to get out of the office early, but my boss collared me on my way out.I spent all afternoon running around collaring the kids to bring them in for supper.I thought I'd be able to sneak out of the assembly, but one of the nuns collared me and pulled me back inside.

2. Of police, to arrest or detain someone, such as a suspect of a crime. Police were able to collar the suspect after he fled down one of the neighborhood's back alleys.

get hot under the collar

To become angry. I'm sorry I got hot under the collar just then, I have a hard time hearing criticism about my novel.I know you get hot under the collar at times like this, but please, stop yelling at me!

work up to the collar

To work hard; to exert oneself. This now-outdated phrase refers to the collar on a beast of burden. I ended up doing most of the project myself because I didn't trust my partner to work up to the collar—he's lazy.

blue collar

Characteristic of the working class, especially manual laborers. The phrase refers to the collar of a laborer's uniform, in contrast to the "white collar" shirts that typically accompany formal dress. I come from a blue collar family, so I will always champion the common man's concerns.Blue collar workers have always been an important part of our economy.

collar-and-tie men

A phrase that refers to businessmen collectively by their usual attire of a dress shirt and tie. I like working with my hands too much to ever become one of those collar-and-tie men who stay cooped up in an office all day.

pink-collar

Of or in the service industry, which most typically employs women. (Used before nouns.) There is nothing wrong with women finding work in a pink-collar profession; the problem is in expecting women—and only women—to work in those types of jobs.

white-collar

Describing a professional or position whose work responsibilities do not include manual labor (i.e. like that of a so-called blue-collar worker). The name comes from the formal dress typically worn by such workers. One of the problems is that too many people are training for white-collar jobs, when what we need are more highly skilled blue-collar workers.

hot under the collar

Angry. I'm sorry I got hot under the collar just then, I have a hard time hearing criticism about my novel.The way you kids deliberately disobey me makes me hot under the collar!

blue collar

of the lower class or working class; of a job or a worker, having to do with manual labor. (Also, when used as an attributive adjective, often blue-collar. Compare this with white collar. Alludes to the typical color of work shirts worn by mechanics, laborers, etc.) His parents were both blue-collar workers. He was the first person in his family to go to college.They bought a house in a nice, settled, blue-collar neighborhood.

collar-and-tie men

Rur. businessmen who wear dress shirts and ties. After Jim graduated from college, he went off to join the collar-and-tie men.Us working folks at the plant have an awful time getting the collar-and-tie men to see our point of view.

hot under the collar

get hot under the collar

If you get hot under the collar, you get annoyed about something. Biographers tend to get a little hot under the collar when conversation turns to the invasion of privacy. Note: You can also say that someone is hot under the collar. Judges are hot under the collar about proposals to alter their pension arrangements.

hot under the ˈcollar

black-collar workers

n. people, usually affected, who wear black all the time. (Contrived. A play on white-collar and blue-collar workers.) I hate to go over to the gallery. It’s filled with black-collar workers. Reminds me of the Adams Family.

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